The Sunday Post #2 | Turning 22, Getting Crafty & More

It's been far too long since we caught up! I feel like a lot has happened since my last Sunday post, both with my life and with this blog.

Firstly, it was my 22nd Birthday on Monday. It was a bit of a weird one as it didn't really feel like a birthday! I wasn't allowed the day off work and I was super-tired so it sort of passed like an ordinary day. Although a very good friend of mine came and met me for lunch at the Alchemist. It was really lovely to catch up with her on my birthday, although I wish I'd been able to stick around longer. If you'd like to see what I got you can check out my post here. It's a bit of a strange feeling to be properly into my 20s but I feel as though my life is coming together finally!

As you may have noticed there have been some big blog changes around here and whilst I wrote a proper post on it, I thought I'd update you. I've had my final, finishing touch added (I've decided Wordpress migration is an adventure for another time...) which is the header. I wanted to keep my layout clean whilst adding in a touch of personality and I think these illustrations do the job perfectly. I contacted Maddy from the blog Unstitched after seeing her illustrations on phone covers and she put together these images for me based on my blog. They're just so 'me' it adds the bit of individuality I'd been after. Also, I'm pleased to report that all my re-directs have now kicked in and my Google rankings seem back to where they were before the URL change. A lot of people on my original post said that this was a big concern for them changing their blog name. Whilst it damaged my traffic in the short-term I've seen a big boost in followers since my re-brand and also since recovering this traffic to my older posts through Google my stats are better than ever! All in all I'm so pleased with and proud of my blog since making these changes and it was absolutely the right decision for me.

Another big thing that happened was that I had Shingles! I'm seriously one of those people who is never ill outside of feeling a bit sick or having a migraine for 24 hours. I started to develop a rash down one side which I thought was an allergic reaction, however after a visit to a drop-in centre I was told it was Shingles, which is why it was so painful. It sounds like something people don't get any more but it's actually a re-emergence of the chicken pox virus, which meant I had to give my boyfriend a wide birth as he'd never had it. It was absolute agony for a couple of days but after that I was more or less fine, it's just left a bit of an ugly scar!

Also, retrospectively quite hilariously, I planned a full week of blog posts all about going on holiday only to end up changing the date. I'm going in mid-July now as my mum was really concerned the weather wouldn't be nice enough in Dubrovnik for the last week of May. It doesn't bother me but now I'm itching to head off somewhere sooner. My latest idea is to go with my boyfriend on the train to Paris as he lives in St. Albans near the Eurostar. I also have a good friend who has been over there since August and I've kept wanting to go and catch up with her but there never seemed to be enough time or I didn't have enough money. But now I'm determined to get enough of both and make it happen! I haven't been there since Disneyland Paris about 15 years ago and I can just imagine all the Sephora and French pharmacy skincare I could pick up...Not to mention a lot of wine and cheese...

I've decided I really want to get into some hobbies I used to enjoy, like craft and baking. I could honestly spend hours (and hundreds of pounds...) in Paperchase. We have such an amazing store in Manchester and I'll definitely be checking out the teashop if I go in with a friend at the weekend. The arts and crafts floor is just amazing! I picked up a few bits, pictured above. I'm not quite sure what I'm going to do with it all but I like the idea of some of these bits in blog photos. I guess I'll probably wrap the 'J' in some of the tissue paper. I've actually already ended up framing the cream and gold polka dot tissue in the frame and I also added in the quote insert from the Stila palette I got for my birthday. Quite a crazy idea but I kind of like it, you can see the finished result on Instagram. I really love the photo frame especially as I have a mix of antique gold and copper details in my room and this is somewhere in-between, pulling the two together. It now sits atop my Muju drawers, which I've recently re-arranged as I just can't stop moving around my set-up!

Another place in Manchester I find myself spending a lot of time in these days is the Northern Quarter. I feel as though despite all the years I've spent in Manchester I'm still discovering new places. I had never visited the Teacup Kitchen, though not through lack of trying! We'd always got there too late to want to wait for food or were on the wrong side of the NQ to make the trip. However I did manage to go twice this past month and it was so lovely! The selection of tea and cakes is just amazing and it was well worth the wait. Also my workplace had a big bar crawl where I discovered some bars I never even knew were there! I feel like we're so lucky in Manchester to have so many amazing shops, bars, cafes and restaurants in such a compact area. I love supporting independent businesses and rarely find myself visiting chains when I go out for food, as most places in the Northern Quarter are really reasonably priced.

Do you have any recommendations on where to get pretty craft supplies, stationary and home wear?

54 comments

I love the new blog name and layout! I am exactly the same i love arts & crafts and also im such a big baker! I bake every week :) I live near Preston so Hobbycraft is my closet place for little bits & bobs! I sometimes go to Manchester as it is only 40 minutes on the train so i will keep an eye out! xEmma | Emmys Beauty Cave

Love more personal posts like this Jasmine! Hope you had a nice birthday regardless of working. I absolutely love Paperchase and could spend hours and a lot of money in there too, I'm also a big fan of the range and hobby craft for other bits. I'm really getting into crafts at the moment, I love making little bits and bobs, that are perfect for presents! x

Ah happy belated birthday! Mine's on Tuesday, gemini ladies. :)I love discovering new areas in the city you live in, like an adventure. Also definitely go to Paris! I went on my 21st birthday last year and headed to Disneyland and the whole thing was a dream. You'll literally never want to leave.

I love the paper chase in Manchester, it's huge! 3 floors of crafting heaven haha! I hope you had a lovely birthday and hopefully get to Paris, I've only been once with my school when I was 12 but it was beautiful! x

I can't remember how many revamps I did to my blog but one thing's sure, it gets better. There's always the tendency to try and please your readers but I think as long as you're happy with it and it reflects your personality the most, then you shouldn't worry. Your header is so minimalist chic and you've got a lovely blog!Have a great week :)

I'm not sure if I'd wished you but if I didn't then I'll wish you a happy belated birthday again! What an adorable header you have!! And if you're interested in craft etc, I recommend you to check out a friend of mine, her name is Claire! I'll tweet you to her :) xxx

Loving your new blog layout and happy birthday! Sorry to hear you were poorly, too! Paperchase is so lovely for little bits and pieces like this, I love the little postcards but never know where to put them! cottonandcandie xx

I think the older we get the less we feel like it's our birthday because when were young it's such a big deal, but you're still so young so don't be worrying :D. You've just reminded me that I need to dig out my scrapbook for Ellie, which I stopped working on when we moved to London and get it finished x

So glad you got to have a nice birthday lunch but SO sorry about shingles, sounds awful :( glad you're better now.Happy the re-brand has been a success and things are going well for you :) you really deserve it as you put a lot of effort into your blog! The Northern Quarter is my favourite place to hang out as well, I love wandering round and discovering new cafes and cute little shops. :)